Corvallis’ very own Oregon State Credit Union President Richard Hein has won a Best CEO of the Year Award from the National Association of Federally-Insured Credit Unions.
Hein, who has led OSCU for more than two decades, will be honored at a national ceremony later this month, and is featured in the latest edition of The NAFCU Journal.
The association notes, “ Under Hein’s direction, the credit union has grown assets from $234 million to over $2.1 billion since 2000. Membership at Oregon State Credit Union has also grown to over 150,000, making it the state’s fifth largest financial cooperative.”
Beavs Score on College Value: According to a recent SmartAsset study, Oregon State University ranks second best for value among colleges and universities in the state. Another public institution, Oregon Institute of Technology ranked first.
The annual study evaluated OSU across five metrics; average scholarships and grants of $8,105, median starting salary after graduation of $61,200, tuition of $13,176, student living expense of $18,557, and student retention of 87%. The same metrics are considered for all institutions nationwide.
Compared nationally, OSU ranked 127th. Best bang for the buck nationally was the California Institute of Technology, their grads pull down a media starting salary of $93,100. Also, according to our editors, we have to tell you how the Ducks did – they place third in Oregon, and their grads starting salaries are about $5,000 less a year than the good folks that can call themselves Beavers.
Expert Offers AI Hacks for Local Businesses: Real world AI hacks for both business and personal growth? Yes, please.
At this free presentation , you will hear real-world examples for how one local expert has personally benefited from these tools – a session that will inspire you to think about ways to use this new technology to gain a competitive edge, generate business growth, and increase your daily efficiency.
Jason Davidson is a sixth generation Willamette Valley native that has had a storied career combining his passion for technology and practical applications to drive innovation at Intel, EMC, and Dell. Jason holds numerous patents, published papers, and is a part of Dell’s technical leadership community. He is a Western Oregon University computer science graduate.
This Willamette Innovators Network workshop is slated for 6 pm, on Wednesday, Sept. 13 at The Foundry, click here for more info and free tickets. Anticipate a two-hour time commitment.
Local Small Business Grants: The Corvallis-Benton Economic Development Office has about $70,000 in small business grant dollars available, they’ll be reviewing applications on Wednesday, Sept. 13 at 5 pm.
This second round of funding for local businesses adversely impacted by the pandemic is offered in partnership with Central Willamette Credit Union. Applicants need to complete a pre-screening questionnaire that will help determine eligibility and viability. Additional information and application materials can be found here: https://www.centralwcu.org/bcbusgrants
Grants will be $10,000. Here’s some of the other eligibility requirements:
- Business must be located in Benton County and employ a majority of their employees within the county
- Have no more than 500 employees
- Be for-profit
- Be independently owned and operated
- Not be nationally dominant in its field
- Been in existence prior to June 30, 2021 and continue to exist and operate through the date that grant funds would be disbursed
- Must have been impacted or disproportionately impacted by the pandemic
At least one-third of the grant funds will go to eligible businesses located outside of the Corvallis and Albany Urban Growth Boundaries. If the number of applications exceeds available funds, first preference will be given to businesses that did not receive government loans or grants during the pandemic. If the number of applicants is still overly high, a lottery system will be used to pick grant recipients.
For a complete list of eligibility requirements, and more information about the grant program, and how funds will be geographically disbursed in Benton County; please visit: https://www.corvallisoregon.gov/business/page/grant-funding-available-benton-county-small-businesses.
Upcoming Business Classes…
Going Into Business: In just one session, you’ll get all the basic information you will need to begin planning your successful business. Rules, regulations, financing, customers, markets, and feasibility will all be discussed in this FREE seminar. This seminar is offered through Zoom video conferencing.
6:30 to 7:30 pm, Tuesday, Sept. 12. Free from the Small Business Development Center at LBCC, click here for details and registration.
Real Estate Broker Pre-License: Have you been thinking about a career as a real estate agent? This class is the first step. An accelerated pre-license HYBRID weekly class, self-study, and a 9-5 pre-test cram session on Saturday, December 2 will get you ready for the Oregon Real Estate Broker’s License Exam. You must attend all class sessions through Zoom or in person and have online access to complete the self-study portion of this course. Held at Coldwell Banker Valley Broker’s North Albany Branch.
11 sessions, $695. Starts Wednesday, Sept. 27, 6 to 9 pm. Offered by Linn-Benton Community College, SBDC. Click here for registration and info.
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